Signs of recovery as California adds jobs for 2nd month

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California has hit its second straight month of growth following a year of enormous losses and inconsistent gains during the pandemic. California added 119,600 new jobs in March. The unemployment rate is now 8.3%, down from 8.5% in February. That's tied with New Mexico and Connecticut for the third-highest rate in the nation. The leisure and hospitality industry led the way with 42,400 new jobs. All but one of the state's 11 industry sectors added jobs. Experts say it will likely be years before California recovers all of the 2.7 million jobs lost during the first two months of the pandemic in 2020.